Ensor, James Sidney, Baron Ensor, born on April 13, 1860- died on November 19, 1949, Belgian painter and etcher.
Ensor's imagery reflected one of the most bizarre and powerful visions of his era. He left his native Ostend to study painting (1877-80) at the Académie de Bruxelles.
His early works were of traditional subjects—landscapes, still lifes, portraits, interiors—painted in deep, rich colors and lighted by subdued but vibrant light.
In Brussels he became one of the original members of "Les XX, a group of avant-garde artists, writers, and musicians. Ensor was highly inspired by literature (Balzac) and he himself inspired some writers (Jean Lorrain). As Ensor was active in the artistic fin-de-siècle milieu of Brussels, he had several writers for friends (Eekhoud, Demolder, Verhaeren, Blanche Rousseau and later Crommelynck, René Lyr).
Ensor exhibited with them regularly until 1888, when his pictures, particularly the Entry of Christ into Brussels (1888, J. Paul Getty Museum, Malibu, California), were rejected as scandalous. While the public and press were at first hostile to his work, his paintings continued to be exhibited, and he gradually won wo ...